Dilip Tirkey disputes Bhola Nath’s authority to call Hockey India emergency board meeting
Dilip Tirkey challenged the validity of an Emergent Executive Committee Meeting called by secretary Bhola Nath Singh for September 18, the Hockey India president said on Tuesday, as the federation’s internal power dispute continued.
The meeting had been proposed to address growing differences within Hockey India and to consider changes to the Hockey India League, including the creation of an independent Governing Council to oversee the competition. Tensions between Tirkey and Bhola Nath have been aggravated by a dispute over the Indian teams' jersey colour: Tirkey says the switch from the traditional blue to saffron ahead of the recently concluded FIH World Cup was made without his knowledge or the approval of the Hockey India Executive Board. In response to the jersey controversy, Tirkey issued a show-cause notice to Hockey India Director General Cdr R K Srivastava, removed Srivastava from all his responsibilities with immediate effect and listed eight charges against him. Srivastava has been given four weeks to reply to the notice.
In an e-mail to Executive Board members, a copy of which is in possession of PTI, Bhola Nath wrote: "On the advice/direction of the Hockey India President, Dr Dilip Tirkey, received via email dated 14.09.2026, the Emergent - 119th Executive Board Meeting of Hockey India will be held at 15:00 hrs on 18.09.2026 at the Hockey India Office, New Delhi," setting out the scheduled time and venue.
Tirkey responded by contesting the secretary's right to convene an emergency meeting and pointed to the federation’s by-law. He wrote: "With reference to your email, please be informed that the by-law, as approved by HI on 20th June 2026, clearly states in the clause(16.4.2 ) that only the President can call an emergency meeting, not the Secretary General."
The president also told Bhola Nath and Executive Board members that no Executive Board meeting should proceed while the DG's explanation to the show-cause notice remains outstanding, using explicit language in his communications. Tirkey wrote: "Also be informed, I am very clear in my direction to you in my earlier communications unless the DG submits his explanation, no EB meeting will be held. "Once again, I request you to refrain from disobeying the Chair of President Hockey India and instead spreading your own decisions and judgments to the other members and creating confusion. The action taken by me are purely for the betterment of hockey, instead of any betterment of some individual and their personal interest," he further wrote.
The emergent meeting was also expected to consider the future of the Hockey India League, with agenda items reported to include plans for both the men's and women's competitions. The latest move in the federation dispute followed a meeting on Monday between Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Tirkey and representatives of HIL franchises, which focused on finding a way forward for the league and led to a five-member panel being tasked with preparing a roadmap covering its governance and financial structure.
Bhola Nath has scheduled the 119th Executive Board meeting for 15:00 hrs on 18.09.2026 at the Hockey India Office in New Delhi, but Tirkey maintains the by-law vests emergency convening authority solely in the president and has said no EB meeting will be held until the DG submits his explanation to the show-cause notice.